The Department of Justice (DOJ) sentenced a Florida man to 10 years in prison after he deployed pepper spray on police officers at the U.S. Capitol.
“Christopher Worrell, 52, of Naples, Fla., was sentenced to 120 months in prison on multiple felony counts that included assaulting a group of police officers with a deadly and dangerous weapon,” a statement from the DOJ reads.
Worrell also cut off his ankle monitor in August 2023.
“In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth ordered 36 months of supervised release, restitution of $2,000, and a $610 special assessment,” the statement added.
As Capitol police officers attempted to block protesters, Worrell, who is associated with the Proud Boys group, sprayed pepper gel.
His action caused the police line to collapse, allowing a “large group of rioters to make their way up the stairs to the Capitol building, where they became the first group of rioters to break into the building itself. Worrell and other members of Zone 5 celebrated Scott’s assault, with Worrell turning the camera on himself to say: ‘Yeah! Taking the Capitol!'”
American Faith reported that Enrique Tarrio, the former chairman of the Proud Boys, was handed a 22-year prison term in September.
Despite not being present in D.C. during the Capitol breach, prosecutors described Tarrio as more than just a participant, as he allegedly mobilized followers.
A substantial part of the prosecution’s argument centered on private communications exchanged between those involved in the breach.
A particularly poignant piece of evidence was a message from Tarrio stating, “Make no mistake … we did this.”
Another element highlighted by the prosecutors was a document titled “1776 Returns” sent to Tarrio via Telegram.
While this document detailed plans for a Capitol takeover, Tarrio insisted he neither opened nor viewed it.
